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Class J^SJ^M^ 
Book-J7fi\<5 . 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE KING'S JESTER 

AND OTHER POEMS 



THE KING'S JESTER 

AND OTHER POEMS 



B Y 



ANNA MARIA WIRTH 



IVITH DECORATIONS BT THE AUTHOR 




PRESS OF 

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 

PHILADELPHIA 

1910 



<-^^ 






COPYRIGHT, I9IO, BY ANNA MARIA WIRTH 



©CU'^?8733 



TO 

THE MEMORY OF 

MY FATHER AND MOTHER 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The King's Jester i 

The Country School 4 

In Absence 9 

The Grandmother 1 1 

The Country Giri 13 

Dreaming and Doing . . 15 

The Redemptioner 17 

The Pioneer 19 

Now ALL THE LeAVES ARE GrEEN 22 

The Huguenot 25 

The Storm 29 

A Tale of the Crusades 36 

A Confidence 39 

Heart's-Ease 41 

Ye Imps O' Halloween 43 

Good Night 45 

A Christmas Hymn 46 

Christmas Bells 48 

The Virgin Mary 50 

Ministering Angels 51 

A Wish 52 

I Wonder ? 53 

* Folks Can Depend on Him " 54 

The Autumn of Life 56 

[vn] 



After Many Years 5° 

Life 60 

The King of Hearts 6i 

The Fairies' Gift 62 

The Guardian Angels • ^4 

The Castle of Indolence 66 

The Mountains "7 

A Winter Morning 69 

The March Wind 7° 

Morning in April T^ 

May 73 

Morning in the Country 74 

The Daisy .• 76 

Rain in Summer 77 

The Song of the Wind 79 

October "* 

An Autumn Leaf °3 

The Cardinal Bird ^5 

The Ice Storm ^6 

The Secret ^7 

The Moon ^9 

The Captive 9^ 

The Water Fairy 94 

Filial Love 9^ 

Night in the Mountains 9^ 



Dressed in motley stood the fool ; 
Idle courtiers watched the sport, 
As the gay Lord of Misrule 
Thus addressed his mimic court : 
'Ho, my minions! bring to me 
All religious sects and creeds. 
Truth from error I will free — 
Precious grain from noxious weeds 
Place a cauldron great and strong 
On the bigot's fiery hell, 
Boil the cruel tenets long — 
Boil the cruel tenets well, 
Till the scum of malice, greed. 
Intolerance, and narrow creed. 



Rises to the cauldron's brim ; 
Then the mixture deftly skim ; 
Stir it round and round and round, 
Add of kindness many a pound, 
Of tolerance a goodly ton, 
And every virtue under the sun — 
Know^ledge of creation's plan, 
Love of God and love of man, 
Mercy, goodness, judgment, grace. 
All here find a w^elcome place. 
Pour into a mould to cool," 
Said the gay Lord of Misrule. 
Add a pinch of honesty, 
Serve with Christian charity, 
Buddhist, Christian, Turk, and Jew, 
All shall taste this toothsome stew. 
If my wondrous plan succeeds 
Men will love the Lord, not creeds. 



Ho, my minions ! Hie away, 
Soon will end our little day, 
Now I reign Lord of Misrule!" 
Sneered the Court: ''Thou art a fool!" 




Hard by the road, just as ot old, the country school- 
house stands; 

A snake fence, with some rails thrown down, sup- 
plies a gate's demands. 

The lads and lasses brought their lunch and ate 
it in the shade, 

At recess there upon the green at ring and forfeits 
played, 

Or drown the duck, a thrilling game, and drop the 
kerchief, too ; 

This was of course a kissing game, and proved 
who loved you true. 

The teacher was a godly man, who often used the 

rod ; 

[4] 



His daily task at morn began with hymn and Word 

of God. 
From well-worn charts, with patience rare, he 

taught the A B C's 
To wandering little minds that gazed on earth, 

and sky, and trees. 
When later on, in halting tones, the little fellows 

read 
The dog can run, I see a cat," we learned to spell 

instead. 

Then through the spelling book we plunged with 

wonderful dispatch. 
Ripe for the trial of our skill, the coming spelling 

match ! 
The good folk then from all around would gather 

from the farms, 
A spelling match possessed for them a multitude 

of charms. 

[5I 



At reading, writing, ciphering too, we labored long 

and well, 
But the glory of a country school is knowing how 

to spell ! 

Two older scholars by the school as captains were 

elected ; 
Each one in turn upon his side a boy or girl selected. 
First both the sides went swimmingly, till hard 

words made a break ; 
Along the lengthy phalanx then stout hearts began 

to quake. 
Down, down, they whirled tempestuously, like 

leaves before the blast. 
Until like heroes, true and staunch, two stood until 

the last. 

The teacher, then, like sportsman keen, aimed with 
unerring skill, 

[6] 



And every neck was craned to see if Dan could 
spell down Bill. 

Midst volleys strong of good test words that now 
fell thick and fast 

Dan found an "e" that Bill had missed and con- 
queror stood at last ! 

The victor then was clapped and cheered as vic- 
tors always are ; 

The beaten chap smiled too and clapped, and 
bravely hid his scar. 

The teacher long ago has gone to reap his golden 

measure ; 
If words and deeds are added up he'll have a 

goodly treasure. 
Now in a harsher, sterner school Care sits at every 

turning. 
We children of a larger growth new lessons still 

are learning. 

[7] 



Ah, me ! could I again sit there and hear the busy 

droning, 
Like buzzing bees about a hive, the daily tasks 

intoning ; 
With birds and flowers and butterflies to tempt us 

during sessions, 
They never had to go to school, or bother with 

hard lessons ! 
I wish the years could be rolled back ; and yet — I 

do not know — 
For all is changed ; I, too, am changed, from the 

child of long ago ! 




I think of you, fair lady, 

From morning until night, 

And then again from evening 
Until the mornino; lieht. 

Your eyes are stars, my day-stars, 
Your lips are Cupid's bow ; 

Your cheeks are like the roses 
That in your garden grow. 

Your face is bright and bonnie. 

There's gladness in your voice ; 

Your life is full of music, 

It sings : " Rejoice ! Rejoice !" 
[9] 



You are my life, my heaven. 

Bend down your head, my sweet ! 

I lay my heart's devotion 
Dear lady, at your feet. 




€f^t <©rantimotl)er 

'We get a new wrinkle every day," 
Dear old Grandma used to say, 
Half in earnest, half in play. 
In her quaint old-fashioned way. 

There she sat near the window-seat 
Knitting stockings for little feet ; 
From a white-frilled cap so neat 
Kindly beamed her face so sweet. 

Well I recollect the day. 
Though many years have passed away, 
And I myself have grown quite gray 
Since that sunny hour in May, 

[ii] 



When Grandma sat in her easy chair, 

And the sunshine played on her silvery hair, 

Forming a shining halo there, 

But the placid face wore a look of care. 

Something had gone wrong I suppose ; 
Perhaps in the rounding of the toes ; 
Toes have their own peculiar woes, 
As every knitter of stockings knows. 

"There! I have found a better way." 
I knew what would come after some delay, 
And then I heard her brightly say: 

"We get a new wrinkle every day." 




€i^t €ountrp <&iv\ 



Merrily tripping the path to the spring 

Came a rosy-cheeked, laughing-eyed, maiden ; 

Light-hearted, bare-footed, a winsome young thing, 
With large wooden bucket downladen. 

Deftly she stooped and the bucket soon filled, 
Brim full of the clear sparkling water ; 

Clear rose her voice as she joyously trilled 

The spring-song her own heart had taught her. 



Butterflies lazily sipped their sweet fill 
A kiss on each blossom bestowing. 

As racing with Rover adown the steep hill 
She came with eyes shining, cheeks glowing. 

[13] 




Then to the pasture the cows she drove forth, 

Sweetness her only adorning, 
While daisies and buttercups, sun-kissed to birth, 

Smiled up in the early spring morning. 




2Dreamtng anti 2Domg 

Little Maid Margery labors all day, 
Sweeping and baking and mending ; 

Helping the mother and children alway, 
To home and its duties attending. 

Mother looks up from her work with a smile, 
To father are brought his lost papers ; 

Baby wants sister to play a short while, 
See ! how he laughs at her capers ! 

Little Maid Rosamond dreams day and night, 
Longing with zeal for a mission ; 

How she will set life's wrongs aright 
Is the sum of her life's ambition. 

[is] 



Dreamily swinging herself to and fro, 
Under the whispering beeches ; 

While mother and Margery, busy below, 
Are baking and putting up peaches. 




€l)e metiemptioner 

Dear Fatherland ! it breaks my heart 

That from thy shores I must depart ; 

The oppressor's hand hath laid thee low 

And wrought for me unmeasured woe ; 

Of home and kin bereft am I ; 

For me no succor yet is nigh ; 

An orphan, friendless and alone, 

A wanderer poor, I make my moan. 

Helpless am I ; the cruel sea 

Yawns 'twixt this promised land and me- 

That friendly shore of which they speak, 

A refuge for the poor and weak. 

Dear Western World ! Thy open door 

I, too, will enter ; that fair shore 
[17] 



My future home shall be ; 
But, oh ! the cruel pathless sea ! 
The voyage long, *mid hardships drear, 
Among cold strangers ! Oh, I fear 
The unknown terrors of the sea ! 
This service in strange lands ; ah, me ! 
Could I but know what would be best 
My tortured heart would be at rest ! 
God of my fathers ! Forth I go ; 
Fearful, yet trusting, weal or woe ! 
Come winged ship ; I trust to thee ; 
And yet — I fear this cruel sea ! 




CJ)e pioneer 

Heigh-ho for the joy of Hving ! 

Heigh-ho for the struggle and work ! 
A hard day's task is before me 

But I'm not the fellow to shirk ! 
My arms are strong and steady ; 

My back can bear the load ; 
When meal time comes I'm ready ; 

I reckon I know the road ! 

Heigh-ho for life and living! 

There's good red blood in my veins 
My muscles are strong as iron, 

I know not aches and pains ! 

[19] 



No other land is like my land ! 

I breathe rare mountain air ; 
I place my hand in God's hand, 

My daily toil's my prayer. 

Heigh-ho for the joy of living ! 

Each day ends far too soon ; 
Then softly comes the peaceful night 

With sleep, wise Nature's boon. 
I stretch myself on waking 

In vigorous, glorious health ; 
The soil gives me my living, 

A fig for power and wealth ! 

Heigh-ho for the joy of living ! 
With God's own skies above, 
The eternal hills around me. 

And my good lass to love ! 

[20] 



For friends my dog and rifle 
To help me win a place ; 

Misfortunes can not stifle ; 
I'm bound to win the race ! 




l^otD 9111 tJ)e Jteabc^ aire oBrcen 

Now all the leaves are green, 

And the flowers have come again, 
The violets and the buttercups 

And hawthorn in the glen ; 
The song-thrush and the blackbird 

Nest in the orchard trees, 
Now father will return to us 

From far across the seas ! 

It's been an anxious wait, child. 

And we have missed him sore ; 

Would he were safely home again 
Here on old England's shore ; 



He's had to struggle all alone, 

Far in a distant land, 
To make for us a little home 

Without a helping hand ! 

Oh, here's a blessed message, 

It is from him I know : 
We've struck it rich ! I'm coming home ! 

I'm feeling fine! Yours, Joe!" 
To-day I heard a skylark, 

A swallow, too, I've seen, 
The long, dark winter's gone, child, 

Now all the leaves are green ! 

There's father coming down the lane ! 

Run Bess and take his pack ! 
It's been a weary year, dear, 

But now, thank God ! you're back ! 

[23] 



My heart was heavy all the day 
Until you wrote: "Dear Jean, 

I know I will be home again 

When all the leaves are green! 




arJ)e i^uguenot 

'Twas on that direful night in France, 
When, as the fatal hour drew nigh, 

On which, for word or veiled glance, 
Brave men and women were to die, 

A young man stood, garbed in the dress 
Of one who served the youthful king — 

The monarch weak and pitiless, 

Whose crime will through the ages ring. 

Beside him stood a lovely girl, 

With wistful eyes and shadowy hair ; 

Among all women, she, his pearl. 

With loyal heart and courage rare. 



To-night her eyes were strangely bright ; 

From dainty laces on her waist 
She snatched a scented kerchief white, 

And grasped his arm in frantic haste. 

'*Dear Love," she cried, "wear this to-night, 
That I may know that all is well!" 
Her sweet voice trembled with affright — 
**My bitter grief no tongue can tell!" 

In wonder then he searched her face ; 

His eyes shone bright with manly fire ; 
Of cowardice and dread no trace, 

But courage bold and righteous ire. 

"Why do you ask this boon of me? 
What need have I to be afraid ? 
Here are my blade and strong arm — see! 

I fear no foe, my pretty maid!" 

[26] 



'Alas, you are a Huguenot! 

My people hate you as the grave ! 
I know there is some dreadful plot 

From which no skill of man can save ! 

"To-night I heard it whispered low : 
*A symbol white our men will wear 
Upon the arm for safety.' So — 

You shall escape, Love! this I swear!" 

With trembling fingers then she tied 
The wisp of lace about his arm ; 
'Safe! dearest, safe!" she softly cried, 
"Go! go! before the dread alarm!" 

'Away with this weak badge of fright! 

My trusting people too must know ! 
Only the coward thinks of flight ; 

In righteous cause my blood will flow! 

[27] 



''Nay, hush these sobs, I can not stay! 

Your pleading makes it doubly hard ; 
My duty calls — I must away 

To die — or come for my reward!" 

With brazen voice from belfry tower 

Clanged through the night the bell of doom 

The sunny land of France that hour 

Was plunged in terror and in gloom. 



The night tryst had a tragic ending ; — 
He fell among his comrades brave ; 

The faithful girl, his life defending, 

Died with the man she could not save ! 




On the land a storm was raging and it wrought 

with fiendish glee 
Fearful havoc in the forest, while it ploughed the 

gray old sea 
Into mighty foam-capped billows, that with sullen, 

muffled roar. 
Dashed against the craggy headlands and the cliffs 

along the shore. 
In the humble little cottage of the fisherman on the 

slope 
Jean, his little daughter, waited, listening with anx- 
ious hope 
For the welcome, crunching footstep of her father 

on the sands, 

[^9] 



As she stirred into a brighter blaze the wood-fire's 
glowing brands. 

She had pleaded with her father not to venture out 

that day, 
For a stiff wind from the Northland swept across 

the little bay, 
But he had gently answered : '* Daughter, do not 

fear for me, 
For the God who rules the tempests watches over 

those at sea." 
Then bending down he kissed her and she watched 

him cross the bay 
In his trusty boat, the "Jessie," to the fishing banks 

away. 

Darker grew the threat'ning heavens, fiercer the ter- 
rific gale, 

[30] 



And the firelight's fitful glimmer showed the watcher 
worn and pale ; 

Often in the lonely vigils, from her little attic room, 

She had heard the night winds whistle and the break- 
ers' heavy boom ; * 

But the loud roar of the waters, as they dashed 
against the shore, 

Filled her with a nameless terror never known to 
her before. 

For it seemed a sure foreboding of a danger near at 
hand — 

A sinking vessel's signal, a life-boat bravely manned. 

Slowly crept the darkness onward, twilight deepened 

into night, 
Then in the cottage window she placed the beacon 

light ; 
The wide expanse of waters she scanned with eager 

eyes, 

[31] 



The dark and gloomy forest, and the stormclouds in 
the skies. 

Gleaming through their ragged edges, in the dark- 
ness from afar, 

Like a ray of hope from heaven trembled forth one 
little star, 

And it sent a calm assurance, that the storm would 
pass away, 

To the anxious little watcher, as she waited for the 
day. 

E'er the dawn, with rosy fingers, drew the curtain 
from the night. 

And the morning sunbeams quivered on the waves 
with dancing light. 

With flying feet she hurried to the well-known little 
quay 

And wide-eyed searched the waters of the white- 
capped, angry sea. 

[32] 



But stay ! what was that object dark, far out upon 

the water, 
That sent a thrill of wild despair to the fisher's little 

daughter? 
The eager light fled from her eyes, her face grew 

ashy pale. 
As through the gray mists of the morn she saw a 

fluttering sail. 

For out upon the fatal rocks, held fast with grip 

of steel, 
A fishing boat was tossing, a wreck, with upturned 

keel! 
And beneath her on the shingle, where the angry 

waves had rolled, 
Among the wind-blown drifts of sand and the sea 

weeds wet and cold, 
Lay something white and ghastly, and the poor girl's 

eyes could trace 
3 [33] 



In those rigid features cold in death her father's rug- 
ged face ! 

With a piercing cry of sorrow Jean fell upon the 
sands, 

And with words of wild entreaty she clasped those 
icy hands ; 

No answer but the sea gull's cry above the winds' 
wild croon, 

And overcome with anguish she fell into a swoon. 

Through the gray mists of the morning, from the 

little fishing town, 
Came the weather-beaten sailors in their home-spun 

- garb of brown. 
What made those sturdy fishers, who laughed when 

lightnings played 

And rough seas tossed the staunchest ship, silent and 

all-dismayed ? 

[34] 



Ah, 'twas in truth a piteous sight that made their 

stout hearts quail 
And caused these fearless mariners to tremble and 

turn pale ; 
For there upon the rock-bound coast, amid the 

breakers wild, 
Fast asleep in death's embrace were the father and 

the child ! 
Slowly, then, with solemn faces, saddened hearts 

and heavy tread. 
Their fishing nets wrapped round them, they carried 

home their dead. 




^ Calc of ti^t Cru^abe^ 

In the silence of the forest 

Dwelt a wistful little maid ; 

Nut-brown hair and eyes of azure. 

Where the lights and shadows played. 

Came a knight and rode by smiling, 
Saw the pretty young head bent, 

Sighing, left the little maiden 

On her summer dreams intent. 

But, alas, from that spring morning 

Visions strange her day-dreams filled ; 

Laughing lips, eyes deep and tender. 

Memories sweet would not be stilled. 
C36] 



Chided she her heart for longings. 

Knew not love held sceptered sway ; 

But the world seemed brighter, fairer. 
Since the day he rode that way. 

Then she prayed, and with her pleadings, 
Dreamed of him but thought it sin ; 

Prayed her saints to guard and keep him, 
Far off in the battle's din. 

Often, when the knight was fighting 

The fierce Saracen afar. 
In the thickness of the conflict 

Shone her face, a guiding star. 

Homeward wending, faint and weary, 
Rode the knight in rusty mail. 

Saw the little maiden standing 

Like a dainty wind-flower pale. 

[37] 



"Sweet, I love thee, be my Day-Star ! 

Long; my heart has sighed for thee 
Leave the forest for my castle. 

My own bonnie bride to be!" 

Swiftly flashed her eyes the answer, 
One glad look of trusting bliss ; 

Then he swung her to his saddle. 
Sealed the compact with a kiss. 



Forth into the world then rode he. 

Blithely singing, debonair. 
Through the forest glades of Aden 

With the maid with nut-brown hair. 



91 €onfitience 

Mother, the good priest calls it sin 

To find dehght in pleasure ; 
But, mother dearest, do you think 

He ever danced a measure ? 
When Raphael joins me in the dance 

The saints seem very near me. 
The holy angels seem to smile ; 

Dear mother, do you hear me? 

Mother, I am so full of joy, 
All day I must be singing ; 

The world is so much fairer now, 
Each hour a new joy bringing ; 

[39] 



Ah, mother dear ! a tear I see, 

You must not grieve about me- 

We are to wed at Whitsuntide- 
He can not Hve without me. 




You came to me, my darling, 

When life was hard to bear ; 

You brought me joy and sunshine 
When I knew only care. 

You made the desert blossom 
With beauty Hke the rose ; 

For sadness you gave gladness, 
For restlessness repose. 

You were the heaven-sent antrel 
Who stirred the healing pool ; 

Upon my fevered forehead 

You placed your hand, so cool ! 
[41] 



Unto a heartsick wanderer 

You gave the bread of Hfe ; 

Small wonder that I love you — 
My sweetheart and my wife ! 




^-^^/^fl 



Come all ye imps o' Halloween ! 
With a hip, hurrah, and a merry tic tac ! 
We hold our revels on Gander Green, 
To pledge each other in good old sack ! 




Then after the sparkling draught we quaff 
Away to our merry pranks we're off; 
The watch-dog we'll feed that he'll not bark, 
But join instead in our merry lark ; 
With a hip, hurrah, and a merry tic tac. 
We'll steal the corn from the farmer's stack ! 
His gates we'll lift from their hinges, ho ! 
And spirit them off to the wood below ! 
Come all ye imps o' Halloween, 
We hold our court on Gander Green I 
[43] 



Maidens will laugh over love tests to-night, 

With ring and with book incantation recite ; 

Over her shoulder the sweet country lass 

Will throw apple parings and look in the glass, 

As backwards with candle she creeps up to bed 

To dream of the lover she surely will wed ! 

Hither and thither the imps quickly glide 

Where nuts will be burned on the grate side by side. 

Aiding, abetting, the pretty delusion. 

By parting asunder some nuts in confusion. 

Others in quiet and peace burn away, 

Emblems of love that endureth for aye. 

So haste, all ye imps o' gay Halloween ! 
With a hip, hurrah, and a merry tic tac ! 
We hold our court on Gander Green, 
And pledge each other in good old sack ! 



[44] 



4Booti IJigljt 



Good night, dear love ! 
May the spirits attending 
Your pathway through Hfe 
Protect you to-night 
From all evil portending ! 
Good night ! 

Good night, dear love ! 
May my fond kiss ascending 
In dreamland overtake you ; 
From sweet thoughts of me 
To rapture awake you ! 
Good night ! 




[45] 



Hail, Thou All-Glorious ! 
Over death victorious ! 

Saviour and King ! 
Thou who did'st death endure — 
Who wast so good and pure — 

And did'st salvation bring ! 

No richly hroidered vest 
Covered Thine infant breast — 

Bright Morning Star ! 
Though robed in vestures bright, 
Crowned with celestial light — ■ 

Angels Thy heralds are ! 

[46J 



But sweet Thine infant rest, 
Clasped to the loving breast 

Of Mary mild ; 
Heart filled with love and fear, 
Eao-er to soothe and cheer 

Her first-born child. 

No earthly pomp and splendor 
Welcomed Thee, O infant tender 

At Thy lowly birth ; 
But the radiance streamed afar — 
From Thy wondrous natal-star — 

O'er all the waiting earth ! 

Thou to comfort wert a stranger, 
Lowly cradled in a manger. 

Thou of earth the King ! 
Hear us, O Christ-Child sweet 
As kneeling at Thy feet 

We our homage bring ! 

[47J 



Hark ! the Christmas bells are pealing 

Through the frosty air ; 
Gently o'er the spirit stealing 

Peace dispels all care. 
Hear the tale the bells are telling, 

With their silvery chime, 
As the joyful tones are swelling 

In every land and clime. 

Sweetly with the bell chimes blending 

Christmas carols ring. 
Through the wintry skies ascending 

To the New Born King. 

[48] 



Sweet and clear the bells are ringinj 
This glad Christmas morn : 
'*Unto us a King is given, 
Unto us a Child is born." 




€1)0 Birgin 0iav^ 

Sweet Mary, Virgin-mother mild, 
What rapture thrills thy breast 

As in thine arms the Holy Child 
Confidingly doth rest? 

What heavenly visions dost thou see, 
As thy rapt, thoughtful eyes, 

Radiant w^ith calm felicity 
Are lifted to the skies ? 

Or can eyes like thine explore 

Into far futurity 
All the long years hold in store 

For the Child upon thy knee? 
[50] 



Dreary indeed would this old world be. 
As earthly treasures from us flee, 
And we, with hearts all torn and broken 
Cherish each little word and token. 
Had God not sent His angels three, 
Strong Faith, sweet Hope, and Charity. 





I often think, in my suffering and pain, 
If only the Healer were here again, 
If only the star that shone at His birth 
Might shed its radiance over the earth : 
How I woidd follow that guiding star. 
Leading me onward from atar, 
And never falter and never rest 
Till the hem of His garment I had pressed. 
And heard His voice so low and sweet, 
(As I knelt and kissed His blessed feet, 
While with pity His eyes would shine) 
Say with compassionate love divine : 
''By faith thou art whole, now be of good cheer, 
Thy Maker, thy Healer, thy Saviour is here." 



I wonder what the end will be? 
And yet I need not wonder ; — 
A firm strong hand is guiding me, 
Despite mistake and blunder. 



My heart is sore 

My hands are torn, 

My tired feet are bleeding ; ^ 

My eyes are dim with unshed tears, 

Yet still that hand is leading. 




[53 



ftMi^ Can 2DepenD (©n l^im 

I knew of one who toiled all day, and far into the 

night ; 
He gave himself, his goods, his gold. 
And kept his garments white. 

I met a workman, "Tell me, friend, about your 

neighbor there, 
Men often tell me of his worth. 
And speak of him as 'square'." 

In quiet tones the man replied, "Well, that is true 

of Jim," 
His honest eyes looked into mine — 
Folks can depend on hitn." 
[54] 



ENVOI 



At the end of the day, when Hfe's setting sun, 
Brings the hour of your twiHght, the last battle 

won, 
May the Master say, as the workman said, when 

you cross with the boatman grim, 
Open wide the door, never mind his creed. 
Folks could ahvays depend on him.'' 




€l)e aiutumu of Hife 

Yes, the years are creeping on, 

But the silvered locks, the furrows fine, 

Traced by the loving hand of Time, 

Are things not to be dreaded 

When each succeeding day is spent in doing good. 

Nature is fairest when Autumn's tints 

Burst forth in gold and crimson flame 

From field and sunny upland ; 

Then skies low-bending, 

All aglow at eventide, 

Reflect back the crimson leaves, glowing fruits. 

And p-olden sheaves 

o 

Of glorious October. 

[56] 



Virtues 'neath Time's all-chano-ino- hand 

Ever more beautiful become, 

O'ershadowing failure with their halo, 

As snow-capped mountains are closer to the skies 

So hoary heads are nearer to the heavens, 

And full fair lives are loveliest. 

Their fragrance ever sweeter. 

As they near the close. 




aiftec jWanp Scar^ 

Dearest love, the tale is told ; 
Youth is gone ; I'm growing old. 

Heart of mine, you're dreaming quite. 
You ne'er were fairer than to-night ! 

But my eyes ! How dim they grow ! 
Once they were your pride, you know. 

Dearest love, I tell you true, 
Lovelier eyes I never knew. 

Once my hands were soft and white. 
See how thin they are to-night. 

[58] 



Dearest love, your hands I kiss, 
With my old-time rapturous bliss ! 

Ah, my husband, you are kind, 
Love, you know, was ever blind. 

Life of mine, but this I know. 
That I love you better so. 

Softly dawned the morning gray 
As the old wife passed away. 

Silently with bowed head. 

Crushed, the old man mourned his dead. 

Like a weary child forlorn. 
Of all hope and comfort shorn. 

God is good ! Death softly came, 
Smiled, and called the old man's name. 

[59] 




/I 




Hifc 



What then is Hte ? 

"^ This spark of fire celestial 

Descending from the hand of God ; 
Inhabiting this frame terrestrial, 
Quickening with life a clod ? 
The world with fancies strange is rite, 
Our thought, meteoric in its flight, 

■M Would pierce the chaos with its light. 



And solve this 



idro 



us mystery- 



Of what it was, what is, and what shall be 



[60] 



€l)c fting of J^eatt^ 



Baby has eyes 

Like sunny skies, 

A mouth Hke a budding rose ; 

Sunshiny curls, 

Teeth Hke pearls, 

The cutest little nose. 

Baby has dimpled little hands. 

Cunning rosy toes, 

Ruling us all with his commands. 

As everybody knows. 

Long live the King of Babyland ! 

We kneel at his downy throne — 

Tenderly kissing the monarch's hand 

Who rules by love alone. 
[6i] 




€J)e fairies' oBift 

To a pretty little valley, 

Noisy with the hum of mills, 
r^ Close beside a quiet river, 

In the shadow of the hills, 
Once the fairies brought in Junetime 

Such a cunning little maid, 
Hid her in among the roses. 

Where the lights and shadows played. 

In a cradle made of blossoms, 
Only grown in fairyland, 
^H|fe^^ Lay this winsome little stranger, 
■i^ Stretching out her tiny hand 

[6z] 



M 




As she tried to catch the sunbeams 

Glinting through the forest trees, 
Smiling in sweet baby fashion 

As a curious little breeze 
Came and searched among the blossoms 

Woven by the fairy band, 
And revealed a little cherub 

Just arrived from Baby Land ! 

Here the happy parents found her, 

Loved the winsome baby arts. 
And the little rosebud blossomed 

In the garden of their hearts. 
Clad in white, a dainty vision. 

Charming, gracious, full of hope. 
Still she wanders through the garden 

Fragrant as her heliotrope. 



[63] 




Ct)c oBuarDian ^tngel^ 

A vision came to me one night 

Of two angels from the realms of light ; 

A halo encircled each seraph's head, 

And light as the thistledown was their tread. 

I watched them descend from the shining stars, 
And silently glide through the fleecy bars 

Of clouds that o'ershadow the Milky-Way, 
The starry path to the Gates of Day. 

While my eyes grew wide with wondering dread 

With accents sweet the angels said : 
We are thy guardians, sent from above, 

To protect and keep you in tenderest love. 

[64] 



'To every child on earth are given 

Tv^^o radiant angel-guards from heaven, 

And though unseen by mortal eyes 

Theyjwatch them till they reach the skies." 




€l)e Cattle of Sn^tAtntt 

Indolence is an enchantress, 

Children then beware ! 
Lest she lure you in her fortress, 

Ere you are aware ! 

First in silken meshes wind you, 
With joys your senses lull ; 

Then with chains of iron bind you, 
And your bright minds dull. 

Should she lure you in her stronghold. 
Call these knights of chivalry, 

Dauntess Courage, strong and bo'd, 
And Tireless Industry. 
[66] 



€t)e iWountain^ 

Oh, for the breath of my own native mountains ! 
Oh, for a draught from their clear sparkhng springs ! 
Oh, for a quick, stirring tramp through the forest 
Where deep in the woodland the hermit-thrush sings ! 

Far from the valley of noise and contusion. 
Up to the heights of the calm, purple hills. 
Where, in the silence of nature's seclusion, 
Peace and contentment my whole being fills. 

In soft fluffy masses the white clouds are floating 
All through the stretch of the blue summer sky ; 
Far from the strife and the struggle about me 
Swiftly through distance in fancy I fly. 

[67] 



Down on the warm scented grass I will lay me, 
Cool from the summit the mountain winds sweep ; 
Over my head the great forest trees whisper, 
The wind through the pine trees lulls me to sleep. 

Oh, for the breath of my own native mountains ! 
Oh, for a taste of their clear sparkling springs ! 
Oh, for the free happy life in the forest, 
Where deep in the woodland the hermit-thrush sings ! 




a Winttt jmonting 

An angel of radiant light, 

In garments of silvery white, 

Came in the silence of night, unseen ; 

Passed over mountains and fields between ; 

And, with the fairy wand he wields, 

Touched every shrub that grew in the fields. 



When the sunbeams on hill and dell, 
In the morning in splendor fell, 
Behold ! each wore a diadem, 
Sparkling with many a priceless gem ; 
Each delicate shrub was a jeweled chalice- 
The earth a beautiful crystal palace. 




The strong March wind swept over the earth ; 
He whistled, he blustered, he shouted in mirth 
Through the wintry skies of steely hue 
Great masses of fleecy clouds he blew ; 
The trees bent earthward under his stroke ; 
The rotten branches he twisted and broke ; 
He watched them fall with a lusty laugh, 
While he twirled aloft his giant staff; 
Downward he swooped with a boisterous gust 
And whirled about him the blinding dust ; 
The withered old leaves he tossed about 
As he dealt old Winter a roguish clout ; 
Then up the hillside and down the glen 

He tossed the leaves and whistled again; 

[70] 



Quoth he: *'I have swept the old earth clean; 
Now April can come with her showers, I ween!*' 

From the top of the mountain, looking down. 
Young April he spied in her dainty gown ; 
'Twas a gauzy robe of a lustre rare, 
With a wreath of wind-flowers in her hair. 
She looked about her with childish grace 
Through the silken tresses about her face ; 
Then she smiled and wept, as April will, 
Until every river and mountain rill 
Gurgled and chattered and frolicked in glee 
As it bore its spring song on to the sea. 
She smiled, and the buds began to unfold ; 
The daflfodils opened their bells of gold ; 
She deftly wove with sunbeams and showers 
A carpet of emerald dotted with flowers ; 
Then, bowing, she smiled in her winsome way 
To greet in her beauty the Queen of May. 
[71] 



;|mDrning in april 



Piped forth the meadow lark sweetly his lay : 

'' Spring o' the year— y-e-a-r- ! " 
Robin and blue bird responded "Good Day! 
We're glad we are here — h-e-r-e-!" — 



Cheerily rang out the ploughman's clear song: 
''This world is so full of good cheer — c-h-e-e-r- !" 

Valley and hill-side the echo prolong — 
"It's good to be here — h-e-r-e-!" 




JWap 

Blossoming time in the spring ! 

Can there be a more beautiful sight 

Than when clusters of rose-pink and white 

In fragrant luxuriance swing 

To and fro in the breeze, 

From the boughs of the gnarled old trees, 

As if wrought by the skill of a magic hand 

Transforming the earth into fairy land? 




^^^^•:vA/i/,/ 



jWiorning in ti^t Countrp 




The cat-bird, swaying in the breeze, 
Sings with ecstatic madness ; . 
The blue bird and the bob-o-link 
Pour out their souls in gladness ; 
With fragrant blooms of pink and white 
The orchard trees are bending ; 
The perfume of the fruitful earth 
As incense is ascending. 
The robin in the apple tree, 
Hard by the threshold growing. 
Flies swiftly by to feed his mate. 
His crimson breast rich glowing ; 
The violet sweet her message tells 
To the tall grass bending over ; 
[74] 



The honey-suckle shakes her bells 
Above the scented clover. 
Close nestling to the old stone wall 
Are curling fern fronds clinging. 
While up among the cedars tall 
An oriole is singing. 




€i&e a^ai^p 




Daisy, with your golden eye, 

Smiling brightly to the sky ; 
With your silvery petals fair 

Swaying in the scented air ; 
Poised upon your slender stem, 

Like a royal diadem ! 
Other flowers choose the shade ; 

Some for mossy nooks are made ; 
But, daisy, you bloom everywhere, 

On craggy clifFs and hillsides bare 
As well as on the fertile plain. 

Peeping out among the grain ; 
Bright and cheery star of day. 

To shine upon the traveler's w^ay. 
[76] 



iiatn in Summer 

The scorching summer sun beat down 
On field and wood all day ; 

While in the dusty trees hard by 
The locust shrilled his lay. 

The roses in the garden drooped, 

The lily hung her head ; 
The heliotrope and pansies sighed : 
"Ah me, we'll soon be dead!" 

With heavy clouds the sky was dark, 

No life was in the air ; 
We must have rain, a cooling rain!" 

Was the incessant prayer. 

[77] 



The barnyard fowls went panting by, 

With drooping heavy wing ; 
The song birds in the wood were mute ; 

Our gold-finch would not sing. 

Upon the dusty, winding road, 

The horses crept along ; 
The tree toad answered cheerily 

The locust's rasping song. 

With mighty trumpet the strong wind 

Soon marshaled all his forces ; 
The springs, and ponds, and mountain streams 

Soon laughed back to their sources. 

The tall trees rustled with content, 

Sweet laughter stirred the flowers. 

As splashing came the welcome rain 
In sparkling, cooling showers. 

[78] 



€l)c ^ong of tl)e ?^inli 

Do you know the song 

Of the wind, of the wind, 

That it sings the whole day long? 

When it comes from the sea 

It sings to me 

Of coral groves, 

Of pearl-lined coves. 

Where the mermaid has her home ; 

Where sea weeds blow and sea flowers grow, 

While the nautilus sails 'neath the foam. 

It tells of the gales 
That toss the sails 
Of the white-winged ships at sea. 

[79] 



It tells of the tears, 

The hopes and the fears, 

Of the sailor's wife to me, 

When the storm is high 

And the sea gulls fly 

Close to the storm-tossed deep. 

For many a brave there finds a grave 

While the wife and children weep. 

It sings of the wonders of distant lands, 

Of dainty shells 

From foreign strands, 

Where the lotus flowers. 

Where the pyramid towers, 

Over deserts of burning sands. 

This is the song that the wind sings to me 

When it comes from the waves 

Of the restless sea. 

[80] 



#cto6er 

It is October. Now the nuts are ripe 

And fall with noisy thud among the leaves ; 
There is a tingling crispness in the air ; 

The autumn fields are laden with ripe sheaves ; 
Gay, laughing, children scamper to the feast ; 

The squirrel, too, collects his precious hoard ; 
Clear laugh and merry shout ring through the wood 

As for the winter^s use the nuts are stored. 

The distant hills are veiled in violet haze ; 

With red and gold the trees are all aglow ; 

The valley slumbers in the sun's warm rays ; 

The river sparkles in the depths below ; 
6 [8i] 



The orchard trees are groaning with their fruits, 
Great juicy peaches, apples red, and pears ; 

With treasures from the orchard, field, and wood 
Jack Frost may come and welcome ; no one cares ! 




^n Slutunin Utaf 

It lay upon the pavement 
Of a crowded city street ; 
The rain beat down upon it; 
The tread of hurried feet 
Crushed all the beauty from it ; 
Poor withered useless thing ! 
The sunbeams had caressed it. 
The zephyrs on the wing 
Had told it of the changes 
That autumn winds would bring. 

Too soon from colder regions 
The lusty Jack Frost came. 
And quickly changed its emerald 

Into a brilliant flame. 

[83] 



The bleak winds of November 
Soon whirled it to the street, 
A lonely thing, forsaken, 
Now crushed beneath our feet. 





€J)e Cardinal 2&irt» 

A winged flower, a flash of flame, 

Outlined against the winter's snow ; ^V/. 
A woodland spirit none can tame, 

A shining mark for scheming foe. 



WM^'^^%^ 




C853 



The ice kino- from the frozen North 

With trumpet shout has issued forth ; 

He blew a blast from his lusty throat ; 

The challenge reechoed o'er castle and moat 

He shook the trees of the forest old, 

Naked and shivering in the cold ; 

Then with the magic wand he wields 

Smote shrubs and grasses in the fields ; 

And when the sunlight on hill and dell 

In the morning in splendor fell 

All in a glittering mantle they stood ; 



[sr.] 



€l)e ^ttttt 



First the breeze told the rose, 
Then the rose told the sun ; 

Soon the birds of the air 

Knew the thing had been done. 



The cat-birds and robins 

Were shocked as could be ! 

The bob-o-link sang it 
In mad ecstasy ! 

The mourning dove cooed it. 
Far off in the wood ; 

The nightingale heard 

And of course understood 
[87] 





The katy-dids knew it, 

(And sad to relate) 
They vowed that she'd rue it 

As^surely as fate ! 

The stars of course knew it, 
And winked slyly down ; 

The moon said her theory 
Would startle the town ! 

Soon every one knew 

That last night at the gate, 
While a cloud hid the moon 

Dick had boldly kissed Kate ! 



€fte jmoon 

I am the Queen of the silent Night, 
Flooding the earth with my silvery Hght ; 
Yon fleecy clouds with the roseate tinge 
Are of my shining robe the fringe. 
Well I enjoy my sceptered sway, 
Till morn, at the rosy Gates of Day, 
Rises in glee from the sparkling sea, 
Then into Shadowland I flee. 

I visit the haunts of the lowly and poor 
As I sail over mountain, valley, and moor. 
I brmg to the prisoner a message of grace 
And breathe '* Benedicite" on his sad face. 

[89] 



I glance as I pass into white trundle beds, 
And lovingly fondle the bright curly heads, 
While the earth-children dreamily turn their eyes 
To my ship of pearl in the far-off skies. 

I shimmer and linger in bright mossy dell 
Where myriads and myriads of fairy folk dwell ; 
The Queen of the Fairies, with scepter and crown. 
Holds court from her throne of the soft thistledown ; 
Yes, Little Bright Eyes ! as every one knows, 
A tiny elf lives in each flower that grows ; 
If you visit their haunts some bright moonlit night 
You will see an enchanting and wonderful sight. 

My beams on the ruined palaces shine 

In the legend-rich, picturesque. Land of the Rhine. 

All nations and lands my sovereignty own ; 

On the burning sands of the Torrid Zone 

[90] 



The dark-biowed savage bows his knee 
And offers his prayers and gifts to me. 
The frozen wastes of ice fields and snow 
Sparkle and glitter with life where I go. 

I am the Queen of the Sky and the Sea ! 

Even the restless, gray old Sea 

Lifts up his waves and moans tor me. 

But calmly I sail in my barge of state 

Until I arrive at Aurora's gate; 

Then I yield my sway to the God of Day 

And hie me to Shadowland away. 




€1)0 Captibe 

A wild bird was brought from the forest green. 

A radiant song bird, free and bright. 
With plumage of rare and brilliant sheen, 

Dark burning eyes of untamed light. 
It was placed in a gilded palace alone. 
And fed upon dainties it never had known, 

And yet it refused to sing. 
But hid its crested head under its wing. 
While ever and anon a plaintive note 
Would burst from the little captive's throat. 
Which plainly said as the bird had spoken : 
"My heart, alas, my heart is broken!" 

I opened the door that my captive held, 
Away he flashed — a winged flame ! 

[9-] 



Then what a burst of melody swelled — 
A rapturous measure that none can name — 
From the cardinal's throat as he sang to me 
Tm off to my mate in our forest tree, 
I'm happy, I'm happy, as happy can be!" 




€J)C Wattt f airp 

Oh, who would not be 
A fairy Hke me? 

For I dance and I iihde, 

On the breezes I ride, 

Or bathe in the sparkhng spray ; 

In my shell-Hke boat 

On the waves I float. 

While the zephyrs around me play 

The moonlight gleams, 

In ambient beams, 

Around my palace of pearl ; 

With corals bright 

[94] 



Are niy halls bedight, 

And pillars of amber and beryl. 

Oh, the deep cool sea 

Is the home for me ! 

My jewels are emeralds rare ; 

Of the sea foam bright 

Are my garments light. 

And lovely beyond compare ! 




filial %o\yt 

"Bright Ivy," said an aged oak, 
Shattered beneath the Hghtning's stroke. 
To the ivy vine about him cHnging, 
Its glossy tendrils around him flinging ; 

"Why is it that you cling to me, 
A withered, useless forest tree, 
Which cruel storms have torn and rent? 
My life is gone — my strength is spent." 

A murmur low from the leaves arose : 
"Because I love you, I suppose. 
For you have shielded me all along. 
When I was weak and you were strong. 
And now if I were to leave you so, 

I would be so ungrateful, you know." 

[96] 



And when at last the oak did fall 
She covered him with an emerald pall ; 
Her glossy tendrils over him spread, 
And wove a canopy over his head. 




|^ifft)t in tl)e jmountain^ 

Beneath us lies the lovely vale, 
Its fertile fields outspread ; 

The purple hills stand sentinel, 

While the stars watch overhead. 

The twinklings of the cheery lights, 
From hamlet and from farm, 

Bespeak a homely sense of rest, 
Far from the world's alarm. 

The noisy choir of katy-dids 

Within the dark, dense wood, 
Begins its weird, shrill, serenade 

That's never understood. 

[98] 



Just what it was that Katie did 
The world will never know ; 

How good, or bad, or fair she was- 
Perhaps 'tis better so. 

The night birds flit by silently, 
Intent upon their prey ; 

The quiet forest life goes on, 
Until the dawn of day. 




DEC 31 1910 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



^m ai i§m 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



NlllllilMillilllilllilllilliilillillllilllllllllll 

015 928 715 4 



